INDIA TO PLAY DAY-NIGHT TEST IN AUSTRALIA? BCCI PRESIDENT SOURAV GANGULY RESPONDS

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly on Sunday said that India will play a day-night Test during their much-anticipated tour of Australia later this year. This comes after Indian skipper Virat Kohli asserted that the team was ready to play a day-night Test anywhere in Australia. Kohli had earlier said, "We're ready and up for the challenge - whether it's Gabba, Perth... it doesn't matter to us. It's become a very exciting feature of any Test series and we're open to playing day-night Tests."

"Yes, India will play a Day/Night Test in Australia. A formal announcement will be made soon," BCCI president Sourav Ganguly told PTI.

Ganguly also said that the second Test of the next home series against England will be a day-night affair and added that the Board will try to have at least one day-night Test in each series moving forward.

Notably, India played their maiden day-night Test against Bangladesh last November at the Eden Gardens, winning the match quite comfortably with plenty of time to spare. Ganguly had said as and when day-night tests will be looked into.

The pink ball game is likely to be held in either Adelaide or Perth though no official word on venue is out yet. Hosting the game in these venues also makes sense considering the better time slot for Indian broadcast audience.

Notably, India had earlier declined Australia's offer to play a day-night Test in Adelaide in 2018-19, citing lack of experience.

However, with Test cricket's dwindling attendances, day-night tests are being seen as a much better option; Australia had been hoping India will agree to play one game at the Gabba this year.

A Cricket Australia (CA) delegation met top BCCI officials on the sidelines of a limited-overs series in January with the day-night Test figuring on the agenda.

Meanwhile, it is also learnt that India is set to play three ODIs and three T20 Internationals in Sri Lanka after the IPL.